Automatic multicolor printing machine



Oct. 27, 1936. L. G. DUBUlT AUTOMATIC MULTICOLOR PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 27, 1936. DUBUlT 7 2,058,671

AUTOMATIC MULTICOLOR PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVINTOH Oct. 27, 1936. DUBUIT 2,058,671

AUTOMATIC MULTICOLOR PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Shet 3 j g-i INVINTOI} Patented Oct. 27, 1936 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC MULTICOLOR PRINTING MACHIN Louis Gilbert Dubuit, Paris, France Application August 23, 1935, Serial No. 37,549 In France September 24, 1934 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for printing by transfer, in which a pad of gelatine fixed on the platen of the machine receives firstly the imprint of the block after which the article to be printed is presented by hand against the pad to receive this print by transfer.

The primary object of the invention is to provide such machines with an automatic mechanism permitting the printing in several colors of any articles, and more particularly cylindrical articles or articles with plane surfaces. This mechanism is intended in particular to produce upon the pad of gelatine a complete print comprising all the designs or markings of different colors to be printed upon the article, so that the transfer upon this article may be carried out by means of a single presentation of the said article. I Another object of the invention is to ensure after each partial actuation of the machine the making of a complete print which the worker can transfer onto one of the articles to be printed, usefully employing the time of stopping of the machine, the result of which is a rapid working without loss of time.

Briefly described, the machine according to the invention comprises a platen carrying the transfer pad and which is mounted upon the base of the machine so as to be able to turn intermittently in its own plane, and a block car- 30 rier carrying several blocks corresponding respectively to the designs in different colors which compose the complete impression, the said block carrier being pivoted on the base so as to be able to move towards and away from the platen for the application of the blocks upon the transfer pad. The mechanism ensuring automatically the intermittent rotation of the platen and the alternate approach and withdrawal of the block carrier is adapted to bring each of the prints already received by the transfer pad successively in front of each block.

The device controlling the intermittent rotation of the platen consists of a series of cams of which any one may be at will brought into engagement with the pivoted lever with a spring capable of producing, according to the angular displacements which are imparted to it by the cams and by the intermediary of a ratchet mechanism for example, a rotation of the platen for 50 a predetermined fraction of a turn corresponding to the angular spaces of two adjacent blocks upon the block carrier or to twice this angular spacing. A camdevice acting likewise upon a pivoted spring lever may serve to ensure the locking of the platen after each of its partial rotations.

The automatic movement of the block carrier towards and away from the platen takes place due to a series of cams acting alternately upon a 5 rocking member connected to the block carrier by any suitable transmission so as to produce at one time the displacement of this member inv one direction (and consequently the approach of the block carrier), and at another time the displace- 10 ment of this member in' thetopposite direction (and consequently the withdrawal of the block carrier).

Furthermore the printing machine comprises advantageously an automatic inking device for 15 the blocks working in connection with the mech-' anism which serves to produce the approach and withdrawal of the block carrier and the platen.

This inking device ensures an inking such that the succession ofthe impressions of different col- 2o ors upon the gelatine cushion is ensured correctly. This result is obtained inparticular by applying each color upon a fraction of the inking roller or rollers.

In the attached drawings there is shown by way of non-limiting example one embodiment of a machine for printing according to the present invention, and intended for printing in three colors.

In these drawings:

30 Figure 1 is a sectional elevation with partial transverse section of the machine;

Figure 2 is a section along A-B-C-D-E of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view with FG-H of Figure 1.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views of the rotary platen in three of the positions which it is caused to occupy.

In this example, the block carrier 43 is pivoted 40 upon the base 44 of the machine by means of a member 45 carrying a sleeve 46 which pivots upon points 41 arranged along an, axis X-X. At its middle this sleeve comprises a fork .48 in which is pivoted a link 49, which is pivoted at 45 itsother end at I I0 to a member III, itself pivoted at I I2 upon the base of the machine. The link 49 is pivoted upon the fork 48 through the intermediary of an elastic connection constituted by a rod I I3 upon which slides, between two adjust- 50 able springs II4, a sleeve H5 integral with this link. Upon the member III are mounted one upon one side and the other upon the other side of the cam two rollers H6, H1 upon which act cams H8 and H9 mounted upon the spindle 69.

a section along 35 t This spindle 99 receives as will be seen later a rotary movement in the direction of the arrow 13 and the form of the cams H9, H9 is such that during this rotation there is produced through the intermediary of the rollers H9, H1 of the member III pivoted at II2, of the link 49, of the fork 49, and of the arms 45, an alternate rocking of the block carriers 43 from the substantially vertical position shown in the drawings to a substantially horizontal position and vice versa, with a sufilciently long period of stopping in the raised position.

Upon the block carrier intended respectively for the impression of a print of determined color.

The platen 55 carrying the transfer pad 55, is mounted for rotation upon the base 44 opposite the block carrier 43 by means of a spindle 51 turning in ball bearings 59, 59. The arrangement is such. that when the block carrier 43 is.

lowered the blocks are applied with the desired pressure upon the transfer pad 59.

Upon the axis 51 of the platen 53 is fixed a pinion 99 with which engages a pinion 9| keyed upon an intermediary spindle 52. This spindle 92 carries a ratchet wheel I29 upon which acts'a spring biased pawl I2I pivoted to the end .of a curved arm I22 pivoted at 52. At the free end of this latter is pivoted a link I23, pivoted on the other hand to the end of a lever I24, pivoted at I I2, and

. sembly of the cams I21, I29 along the spindle 59 in either direction, one or other of these cams to act upon the roller I25. The cams I2l and-I29 are formed so that at each turn of rotation of the shaft 69 the platen 55 undergoes, according as to whether one or other of these cams is in contact with the roller I25, an angular displacement of a quarter turn respectively or a half turn, occurring through the intermediary of a roller I25, of the lever I24, of the connecting rod I23,of the arm I22, and of the pawl I2I acting upon the ratchet 'wheel I29, of the axis 92, and gears 5| and".

The stopping of the platen 55 at positions .strictly determined is obtained by a finger I32 of which is pivoted a link III the other end of which is pivoted upon a lever I39 pivoted at H2 and carrying a roller I39. A spring I49 tends to bring back constantly the lever I39 towards the right of, Figure 1. Upon the roller I39 acts a cam llimounted upon the spindle 99.

'Iheinking mechanism of the blocks comprises two rollers I2, I3 co-operating with a cylindrical inking table 14 which receives the colors from an arrangement analogous tothat which is currently usedin printing. The said rollers are mounted by the intermediary of rods I5 subjected to the action of springs I5 upon two arms II placed on either side of the base 44 and pivoted upon 54a, 54b, 54c.. 43 are here fixed inan" adjustable manner three blocks 54a, 54b, 54c suitably spaced with respect to one another and this latter by means of a spindle 13. This spindle carries a lever arm I42 to the end'of which'is pivoted a fork I43 enclosing with a certain play the spindle 49. Upon this fork I43-is fixed a roller I44 upon which acts a cam I45 mounted upon the spindle 99. This cam is formed so that at each rotation of the spindle 49 the fork I43 undergoes a certain alternating angular displacement and transmits to the arms 11 carrying the ink: ing rollers I2, I3 an angular displacement which brings these rollers into contact with the blocks Upon the spindle ll of the arms 11 there is moreover fixed a bearing 95 in which pivots a link 99 connected to a lever 91 keyed on a transverse spindle 99; upon this latter are fixed two oscillating supports 99 carrying a roller 99 which, under the and of the oscillations communicated to the supports 99 by the angular displacements of the spindle I9, comes into contact with a roller 9I mounted in the trough 92 containing the ink. One of the supports 99 carries moreover a pawl 93 which co-operates with a ratchet wheel 94 integral with the roller 9I and imparts to this latter an intermittent rotating movement. The roller 99 separating from the roller 9I comes into contact with an intermediate roller 95 pivoted upon the base 44 and which is itself'in contact with a roller I45, in contact itself with a roller 1. The roller I49 deposits on the inking table I4 the ink which it has itself received from the oscillating roller 99 through the intermediary of the intermediate roller 95.

The rollers 95 and I" are mounted upon a spindle upon which they have, by the intermediary of a finger engaging in a slot, a lateral move- I ment intended to equalize and properly distribute the ink. I

Upon the spindle 91 of the roller I4-is keyed a pinion I49 which is connected by a chain I49 to a pinion I59 keyed upon the shaft 99, this latter may thus transmit a continuous rotary movement to the roller 14. To ensure upon this latter and consequently upon the rollers I2, 13 intended to coat the blocks 54a, 54b, 540, a suitable distribution of the color corresponding respectively to the said blocks, the trough 92 is divided in its length into three distinct compartments by means of partitions. The actuation of the cam shaft 59 may be produced, starting from a shaft I94 carrying a control pulley I95 through the intermediary of a train of gears I99, I91, I99, I99.

The partial rotations of the platen 55 may be damped with the aid of a spring I5I (Figure l) which fixes a plate of fibre or other material I52 between a metallic plate I53 and the base 44. The machine operates in the following manner when the cam I21 coacts with the roller I25:- 7 At the beginning of the inking of the blocks the members occupy the position shown in Figure 1. The cam I45 acting upon the roller I44 produces the lowering of the arms II which brings the rollers I2I3 into contact with the three blocks 54a, 54b, 54c respectively coated with a different color. Continuing its rotation the cam I45, by .always acting upon the roller I44, determines the raising of the rollers I2, I3 up to the inking roller I4.

During these movements the block carrier 43 remains raised, the rollers III, III of the memher I II being in contact with the circular part of each'of the cams H9, H9.

When the rollers I2, I3 have come back to their upper position the cam II9 produces pressureupontherolier Iltsoastocausethemember III to undergo an angular displacement towards the left of Figure 1 and to produce sequently the lowering of the block carrier upon the platen 55, this being maintained stationary by the engagement of the finger I32 in one of the holes I33. The blocks are then applied upon the pad 56 which receives thus three imprints a, b, c, of different colors as is shown diagrammatically in Figure 4. Then under the action of the cam II9 acting upon the finger IIG of the member III the block carrier 43 is raised. At this moment the cam I4I acting upon the roller I39 draws the link I31 and raises the finger I32 which leaves the housing I33. Then the cam I21 acting in its turn upon the roller I25 causes the platen 55 to undergo, through the intermediary of the link I23, of the arm I22 and of the pawl, a rotation of '90. The finger I32 then comes under the action of the spring I40 acting upon the lever I38, the connecting rod I31 and the arm I38 to engage in the next hole I33.

The process of inking the blocks takes place again as above, and the block carrier 43 is lowered again upon the platen 55. The pad 56 receives three new prints a, b, c (as shown in Figure 5), the prints a, b being combined with the previous prints b, c, which the rotation of the platen 55 has brought opposite the blocks 54a, 54b. When the block carrier is lowered a third time, the platen 55 has undergone a new rotation of and the prints a", b", 0" applied by the blocks upon the pad 56 combined with the preceding ones (as indicated in Figure 6) so that one of the imprints formed comprises at the same time the three colors corresponding to the three blocks. The worker may then profitably employ the following inking phase during which the block carrier 43 and the platen 55 are stationary, for presenting the article to be printed to this complete impression. The same operations are repeated indefinitely. A complete print is always available for transfer, this occurring at each fresh lowering of the block carrier, starting from the three first times which constitute the priming of the machine.

When the other cam I28 coacts with the roller I25, the platen 55 undergoes, as previously stated, a rotation of for each complete rotation of the shaft 69. In this case the block carrier 43 only carries two blocks and these are diametrically opposed, while the'transfer pad only has-two inking zones each of which receives for each double rotation of the shaft two superposed prints, against each of which an article is presented at suitable intervals.

I claim:

1. A machine for multi-color printing of various articles comprising a frame, an impression transfer platen mounted .upon the frame so as to be able to turn in its own plane; a block carrier; a plurality of printing blocks fixed on the block carrier and corresponding respectively to the designs of different colors which compose the complete impression, the said block carrier being mounted upon the frame so as to be able to move towards and away from the transfer platen for the application of the printing blocks upon the transfer platen; means for inking said printing blocks; and means for automatically ensuring an intermittent rotation of the transfer platen and an alternate approach and withdrawal of the block carrier with respect to the platen such that the prints of the several printing blocks are superposed successively upon the transfer platen to constitute the complete imprint to be printed on the article.

2. A machine for multi-color printing of various articles'comprising a frame, an impression transfer platen mounted upon the frame so as to be able to turn in its own plane; a gelatine transfer pad fixed upon said transfer platen; a block carrier; a plurality of printing blocks fixed on the block carrier and corresponding respectively to the designs of different colors which compose the complete impression, the said block carrier being mounted upon the frame so as to be able to move towards and away from the transfer platen for the application of the printing blocks upon the gelatine transfer pad; means for inking said printing blocks; and meansfor automatically ensuring an intermittent rotation of the transfer platen and an alternate approach and withdrawal of the block carrier with respect to the platen such that the prints of the several printing blocks are superposed successively upon the transfer pad to constitute the complete imprint to be printed on the article.

3. A machine for multi-color printing of various articles comprising a frame. an impression transfer platen mounted upon the frame so as to be able to turn in its own plane; a block carrier; a plurality of printing blocks fixed on the block carrier and corresponding respectively to the designs of different co'ors which compose the complete impression, the saidblock carrier being mounted upon the frame so as to be able to move towards and away from the transfer platen for the application of the printing blocks upon the transfer platen; means for inking said printing blocks; an oscillating member connected to the block carrier; a set of cams acting upon the said oscillating member to ensure an alternate approach and withdrawal of the block carrier with respect to the transfer platen; and means ensuring an intermittent rotation of the transfer platen such that each of the prints received by said transfer platen is brought in front of each of the blocks.

4. A machine for multi-color printing of various articles comprising a frame, an impres sion transfer platen mounted upon the frame so as to be able to turn in its own plane; a block carrier, a plurality of printing blocks fixed in a circle around a common axis on the block carrier and corresponding respectively to the designs of different colors which compose the complete impression, the said block carrier being mounted upon the frame so as to be able to move towards and away from the transfer platen for the application of the printing blocks upon the transfer platen; means for inking said printing blocks; means for automatically ensuring an intermittent rotation of the transfer platen by a fraction of turn corresponding to the angular spacing of two adjacent blocks on the block carrier, and means for automatically ensuring an alternate approach and withdrawal of the block carrier with respect to the transfer platen such that the prints of the several printing blocks are superposed successively upon the transfer platen to constitute the complete imprint to be printed on the article.

5. A machine for multi-color printing of various articles comprising a frame, an impression 4 I I a',oss,s71 v sion,thesaidblockearrierbeingmountedupon pivotedleverforprodneinganintermittentrotatheframesoastobeabletomovetowardsand tionofthetransferplatenby fractionofturn platen; means for inking said printing blocks; a

ratchet mechanism connected to the transfer pad; a spring biased pivoted lever controlling the said ratchet mechanism; a cam noting p n the said lever for automatically producing an intermittent rotation of the transfer platen by a fraction of turn corresponding to the angular spacing of two adjacent blocks on the block carrier; and means for automatically ensuring an alternate approach and withdrawal of the block carrier with respect to the transfer platen such that the prints of the several printing blocks are superposed successively upon the transfer platen to constitute the complete imprint to be printed on the article.

6. A machine for multi-color printing of various articles comprising a frame, an impression transfer platen mounted upon the frame so as to be able to turn in. its own plane; a block carrier; a plurality of printing blocks fixed on a circle around a commcm axis on the block carrier and corresponding respectively to the designs of different colors which compose the complete impression, the said block carrier being mounted upon the frame so as to be able to move towards and away from the transfer platen for the application of the printing blocks upon the transfer platen: means for inking said printing blocks; a ratchet mechanism connected to the transfer 'pad; a spring biased pivoted lever controlling the correspondingtothe angularspacingoftwo jaoent blocks on the block carrier: and means for automatically ensuring an alternate approach and withdrawal oftheblockcarrlerwithresp'ect tethe transferplaten suchthattheprintsofthe several printing blocks are superposed successively upon the transfer platen to constitue the complete imprint to be printed on the article.

7. A machine for multi-color printing of various articles comprising a frame, an impression transfer platen mounted upon the frame so as to be able to turn in its own plane; a block carrier;

a plurality of printing blocks fixed in a circle aroundacommon axisontheblockcarrierand corresponding. respectively to the designs of different colors which compose the complete impression, the said block carrier being mounted upon theframesoastobeabletomovetowards and away from the transfer platen for the application of the printing blocks upon the transfer platen; means for inking said printing blocks; means for automatically ensuring an intermittent rotation of the transfer platen by a fraction of \turn corresponding to the angular spacing of two LOUIS GILBERT DUBUI'I. 

